Thursday, October 29, 2015

Halloween is only a couple days away!!! It's been a while since I went trick or treating, but I've seen some really gorgeous costumes during this season, and the most beautiful ones are the ones created from clothes and items that people already had in their possession. So with that in mind, I wanted to create two looks for the festivities. The first is a focus on 'Where's Waldo' but with a more hipster edge. And while the original doesn't wear jewelry, I figured as a frequent world traveler Waldo would have accumulated some really cool bracelets. The second is 'The Unicorn' because who doesn't love unicorns? The horns are from Etsy and are really the only essential item of the costume itself. With the clothes from Charlotte Russe, and of course Mad Maiden, the bad ass 'Unicorn' will definitely turn heads at any Halloween party.

Sunday, October 18, 2015

There is so much fashion going on that a girl can never have too many options. I've decided to create a monthly list of glamorous items that have made it to my wish list. I think it'll be a great idea considering the upcoming holiday season so I hope you all will get some good ideas from this. Anywhoo, let's begin with some things that have caught my eye and stolen my heart.

I saw the above earrings on Nordstrom.com and I fell in love. They're inexpensive, which is great, they SPARKLE, which is even better, and they come in an assortment of colors, one of which is the lovely mix of red and purple seen in the pic. This is definitely being added to my Pinterest Xmas list as we speak.

Its cute, it's top quality, it's Coach. There is very little they can get wrong. I really like feathers and birds and so when I see an everyday item like a necklace representing one of those things, I get excited. The chain is shorter than I'd like but it's a really cute necklace that would make a nice gift for someone's birthday or the holidays.

A good pashmina scarf will go a long way and I have been in love with them since I was in high school. In the winter, paired with the right coat, you will look more noticeable and more luxurious. Not to mention, they come in so many fun colors! You pick the color that suits your mood and that's it. The apple green and tangerine colors in the pic above are the colors that I want for myself, personally, but there's a big selection to choose from. My sister is obsessed with scarves and boasts several storage bins filled to the brim with them. And she loves them because no matter the outfit, a scarf can add style in the subtlest of ways. I completely agree.

Gap is one of my favorite retailers. Period. I've been shopping them since middle school. Can you imagine a middle schooler rockin' $50 jeans? Yeah, that was me and I won't apologize...except to my mother's bank account lol. But this wool coat is gorgeous, is it not? It comes in black as well but the brown really caught my eye. It looks warm and high quality so at least when you're shoveling the snow from your driveway in the cold, wet winter, you'll look good doing it. Am I right?

This bag represents one of the many reasons why I adore Target like so many others. Because no matter your budget, taste, or price point, you can always find something that suits you. This bag is really speaks to me because as a college student, this bag looks like it could serve multiple purposes and carry all your necessities. And the colors, oh, the colors. I personally love the bold orange sides but the burgundy is also beautiful for those looking for a more elegant, business look. Bravo, Target. Bravo.

So I hope you like the items above, they really caught my eye. I just love the direction retail fashion is taking. BTW I will be posting a Halloween blog toward the end of the month, so look out for that.

Friday, October 9, 2015

Pittsburgh, the city I love and live in, is changing dramatically and has been for a few years now. It's booming as a hub for commercial enterprises and medical innovations but its landscape is changing. Downtown, an area once known for its retail shops like Macy's and Saks Fifth Avenue, is being transformed into a residential hotspot with more condos being built into the skyline. And many surrounding neighborhoods are undergoing a facelift, like my neighborhood the North Side. This is a good thing but considering the recent closing of the Macy's in Downtown, there's a massive void of retailers in the area.

The only clothing stores now are Burlington Coat Factory and Brooks Brothers amidst discount stores. To get a satisfactory shopping experience, a Pittsburgher would have to travel to either Robinson, Ross Park Mall, Walnut Street, or the Waterfront. (I would include the South Side, but it's facing the same problems as Downtown.) Most of these locations are a good drive away from the city. We're really is in desperate need of some good clothing outlets, and it's clear with the recent departure of Macy's that the solution to this problem is not department stores.

Since the number of residents in that area will increase significantly in the next few years, I have a few ideas as to the retailers who should make a presence in Downtown Pittsburgh. This list is just a list of a few retailers that I know would see traction with boutique stores:

These retailers provide exceptional clothing at different price ranges that are affordable to many different types of consumers. They also provide a good range of clothing styles from work clothes to date night and so on. The point is Downtown has so many dead zones and empty areas that a few boutiques would really bring some much needed vitality to the city and make shopping more convenient for the many college kids who don't have a car.

These are really exciting times for the city and I cannot wait for what is next to come.